Wall form spreader tie



Feb. 5, 1952 s oNs 2,584,822

WALL FORM SPREADER TIE Filed Jan. 29, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET l A. H SYMONS 2,584,822

WALL FORM SPREADER TIE Feb. 5, 1952 Filed Jan. 29, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENTVOFFICE WALL FORM SPREADER TIE Arthur H. Symons, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Symons Clamp and Mfg. Company, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 29, 1947, Serial No. 724,999

2 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to wall 1 forms. More particularly the invention relates to "that type of wall form which is primarily designed and adapted for use in the formation of a concrete wall or like structure and as its pri p parts or components comprises: (1) a pair of opposed, spaced apart, upstanding panels each 'of which comprises a rectangular facing and a rectangular reenforcing frame secured to the outer face of the panel'and consisting of laterally spaced vertically extending side pieces and vertically spaced horizontally extending cross-' pieces between the side pieces; (2) a combined tie and spreader rod which extends between the two panels and has the ends thereof provided with loops, extending through holes in the facings of the panels and disposed in lapped relation with the central portions of certain opposed crosspieces of the panel frames; and (3) a pair of devices which are in the form of brackets in associated relation with the central portions of said certain opposed cross-pieces of the panel frames and slid-ably mounted, wedge shaped, loop' receiving bolts on the brackets, and serve releasably to lock the ends of the combined tie and spreader rod to the panels in order to hold the panels against relative lateral displacement in connection with pouring of concrete therebetween for wall forming purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide a wall form of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed wall forms of the same general character including that which is disclosed in, and forms the subject matter of, my copending patent application filed June 13, 1945, and serially Numbered 599,148, now Patent No. 2,507,061, is characterized by the fact that the devices for releasably locking the loop equipped ends of the combined tie and spreader. rod to the panels are designed and constructed in a novel manner and so that they eiiectively and efliciently fulfill their intended purpose and permit the wall form as a whole to be assembled and dismantled with facility, and is further characterized by the fact that the brackets of the releasable locking devices are U-shaped and have laterally spaced, parallel side legs which are adapted to straddle the loops on the ends of the rod and the adjacent central portions of said certain crosspieces of the panel frames and have aligned slots therein for slidably receiving the wedge shaped bolts forming parts of the releasable locking devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall form of the type and character last men- 2 v I I .tionedin which the inner ends of the side legs of the brackets of the. releasable. locking devices are provided with outwardly extending, right. angle feet which are adapted to-fit'flatly against the 5 outer surfaces of the panel facings when the form is in assembled relation and serve to prevent the crosspieces to which the brackets are applied from rocking or rolling laterally when ,thepanels are subjected to outward thrust during pouring of the concrete therebetween. I

A further object of theinvention is to D1'0V de a wall form which is generally of new and improved construction and is ,characterizedby the fact that it is highly efiicient in use and is capable of beingqproduced at a comparatively low cost. Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present .wall form will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are -more particularly defined by. claims at the con-- ;clusion hereof. x v r r In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specificationor disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of awall form embodying the invention; I V v I Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating in detail the construction and design. of the devices for releasably locking the loop equipped ends of the combined tie and spreader rod to the twoopposed spaced apart, upstandingpanels;

Figure 3 is a vertical. transverse section showing the manner'in which the outwardly extending right angle feet on-the inner ends of the side legs of the brackets serve, when the form-is in as- 40 sembled relation, to prevent the frame crosspieces to which the locking devices are applied from rocking or rolling relatively to the panel .facings when the panels are subjected to outward thrust as the result of pouring of concrete between the panels;

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 44 of Figure 3; and t Figure 5 is a view showing the variousv parts 0 one of the releasablev locking devices. as well as the parts associated therewith in a, dismantled condition. p

The Wall form which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is primarily adapted and designed for use in connection vwith the formation of a concrete wall (not shown) and comprises a pair of opposed, upstanding panels 6, a combined tie and spreader rod 1, and a pair of devices 8 tions of the rod that project beyond the sides of the concrete wall, are severed. It is: contemplated that each of the panels 8 will be arranged in series form with like abutting panels and that the panels of the series will be maintained in abutting relation by any suitable means, such, as

for example, as the means forming the subject matter of my copending patent application filed October 4, 1944, and serially Numbered 557,104 now abandoned; Each the-panel's comprises a rectangular facing 9, and a rectangular reenforcing frame HP. The t acings a of thepanels are formed of plywood or any other suitable material and have flat inner surfaces to the end thatthe sides of theconcrete wall that-is formed between the panels are smooth. The rectangular frames ll! of the panels are the same in: size as. the i'aei'ngs and fit against the marginal portions of the outer surfaces of the 'facings. They are connected to the faelngs'by'naflsor other attaching devices and consist of laterally spaced, vertically extending side pieces Ill, horizontally extending top pieces l2, and horizontally extending intermediate crosspieces (3. The side pieces, top pieces and crosspieces are preferably formed of timbers or wooden and are rectangular in cross section. As shown in Figures 1; and 2, the ends of the top pieces and theend's of the intermediate crosspieces abut against the inner side surfaces of the side pieces. The intermediate crosspieces l of the panels are disposed in parallel relation and also the same horizontal plane and have in their central portions vertically extendingslots H. The latter extend completely through the intermediate crosspieces and are of uniform width from end to end. The facings of the panels are provided with opposed, horizontally extending slots I! and these are located adiacent and directlyabove the central portions of the upper side faces oi the intermediate crosspieces l3. As best shown in Figure 3 the lower portionsof' the slots f5 and'the upper side surfaces of the intermediate crosspieces are coplanar.

The combined tie and spreader rod 1' extends horizontally between, and is arranged at right angles to, the panels 6'. It is formed'of any-suitable metal, such as steel, and serves, in conjunction'wi'ththe devices 8',- to hold-the panels in fixed and spaced apart relation during pour-ingot" concrete therebetween. The ends" of the rod extend through the slots I5 in the panel faclngs 9' and embody'outward's of the panel f acings closedloops PI. The latter" are horizontally elongated and lit flatly against the central portions 01" the upper side surfaces of the crosspieces l3, as shown in Figure 3. The interiors of the loops constitute transverse openings through the ends of the rod 1. In assembling the rod 1 with respect to the panels 6- the rod is arranged so that the loops l8 extend horizontally. When the rodis so arranged the loops are threaded or inserted through the slots Hr and manipulated into a position wherein they fit flatly against the upper side surface of the intermediate crosspieces l3 of the panel frames Hi. It is contemplated that when the rod 7 is in assembled relation with the two panels the transverse openings constituting the interiors of the loops will be in alignment or registering relation with the slots M in the central portions of the intermediate crosspieces l3. The size and shape of the aforementioned transverse openings correspond to the size and cross sectional shape of the slots M.

The devices 8 for releasably locking the loop equipped ends of the combined tie and spreader R rod 1 to the panels 6 comprise brackets I1, vertically extending wedge shaped bolts [8 and horizontally extending wedges IS. The brackets H are U-shaped and each is of one-piece character and comprises a vertically extending intermediate part 2% and a pair of horizontally extending vertically spaced side legs 2|. Any suitable heavy gauge metal is used to form the brackets l1 and the latter are preferably in the form of'starnpings. The brackets are adapted to straddle the loops Ed at; the ends of the. combined tie and spreader rod 1 and. the central portions of the intermediate crosspieces. [3 of the panel frames. When the brackets are in their operative position as shown in the drawings, the intermediate parts 2c fit flatly against the outer vertical surfaces of the intermediate crosspieces l3. The height of the parts 2! is slightly greater than the combined thickness of the intermediate crosspieces l3 and the loops [8. The side legs 2! of the brackets are connected. to the ends of, and project inwards at: rightangles to, the intermediate parts 28, and are the same in length as the intermediate crosspieces l3 arein width. The uppermost side legs. 2 t are in parallel relation. with the lowermost side legs and are adapted directly to overlie the loops Hi. The lowermost side legs 2 I are adapted to underlie and abut directly against the central portions of; the lower side surfaces of the intermediate crosspieces t3 when the brackets are intheir proper operative position with respect to the. crosspieces. 13, The central portions of the bracket side legs 2t are. provided with longitudinally extending slots. 22 and these are arranged so that when the brackets are in place they register with the interiors of the loops 16 and the vertically extending slots M1 in the intermediate crosspieces [it The length of the slots 22 corresponds to the length of the interiors of the loops l.6.. Said slots 22 are adapted slidably to receive the vertically extending wedge shaped bolts it. The inner ends of the side legs 21 of the brackets I! are provided with integral outwardly extending. feet 23 which extend at right angles to the side legs and: are adapted to fit flatly against the outer faces of the panel facingst. When the brackets I"! are in place the feet 23 prevent or preclude transverse or lateral rockingor rolling of the intermediate crosspiecw l3 to which the: brackets are applied; The vertically extending wedge shaped bolts I8 are preferably arranged so that the large ends thereof are at the top. They are adapted to be slid downwards first through the slots 21' in. the uppermost side legs of the brackets, then through the interiors of the loops It, then through. the slots H and. then through the slots 22 in the lowermost side legs of the brackets, and serve, when driven into place, to lock thev loops l8- of the combined tie and spreader rod 1 to the intermediate crosspieces 13 of the panel frames to the end that the rod serves to hold the two panels against relative or lateral sidewise displacement. The upperor large ends of the bolts [8 are bent at-right angles to form heads place.

brackets l I; The lower or small ends of the wedge shaped bolts I8 are provided with longitudinally "extending slots '25 for slidably receiving the horizontally extending-wedges Ill. The latter are in the form of fiat metallic strips and are adapted when the bolts 58 are in place to be driven through the slots 25. The upper side edges of the wedges "I9 engage the lowermost side legs 2| of the brackets l'l' when the wedges are driven into In' assembling the locking devices 9 the small ends of the wedges l9 are inserted into the slots 25 after the bolts l9 are driven downwards so that they extend through the slots 22, the loop interiors and the slots l4. After inserting the small ends of the wedges [9 into the slots 25 the wedges are driven in the direction of their small ends. In connection with driving into place the wedges operate to draw downwards the bolts I8 so that the latter are in locked relation with the brackets. The wedges I9 constitute safety means for preventing undesired removal of the bolts.

In assembling the wall form the panels 6 are arranged in an opposed, laterally spaced, up-

standing position. Thereafter the combined tie and spreader rod 1 is manipulated so as to cause the ends thereof to extend through the slots and the loops [6 to rest on the central portions of the upper side surfaces of the intermediate crosspieces 13 of the panel frames. After proper manipulation or positioning of the rod 1 the U- shaped brackets are arranged in straddled relation with the loops i6 of the rod 1 and the central portions of the crosspieces 13. The brackets are adjusted so that the slots 22 in the side legs 2| thereof are in registry with the loop interiors and the slots [4. After proper manipulation into place of the brackets the lower ends of the wedge shaped bolts l8 are aligned with the slots 22 in the uppermost side legs of the brackets and the bolts are driven downwards so that they extend through the loop interiors I6 and the slots [4 as well as the slots 22 in the bracket side legs. After driving of the bolts I 8 into place the wedges l 9 are driven horizontally through the longitudinally extending slots 25in the lower or small ends of the bolts l8. As heretofore pointed out, the wedges it, when driven into place, serve to lock or retain the bolts l8 against upward displacement with respect to the brackets. After assembly of the form in the aforementioned manner concrete is poured into the space between the panels 8. Upon hardening of the concrete the panels are dismantled by first removing the wedges l9 and then sliding upwards the wedge shaped bolts l8. Upon removal of the wedges and the bolts the panels are free and hence may be shifted away from the concrete wall.

efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose and may be assembled and dismantled with facility because of the construction and design of the releasable locking devices 8. Because the inner ends of the side legs 2! of the brackets H are provided with outwardly extending right angle feet 23 which, when the brackets are in place, abut against the outer surfaces of the panel facings 9, the brackets operate in comiection with outward thrust or pressure on the panels due to pouring of concrete therebetween to prevent transverse or lateral'rocking or rolling of the intermediate crosspieces 43 of the panel frames l0. By reason The herein described wall form effectively and hr the fact that the brackets n of the releasable locking devices 8 are symmetrical'they are reversible so far as application or positioning thereof is concerned. If the slots I 5 in the panel facings are positioned above the upper side surfaces of the frame crosspieces l3 to the end that the loops overlie said upper side surfaces of the crosspieces outward thrust of the panels tends to rock the crosspieces upwards'and such tendency is prevented or precluded by the action of the feet on the uppermost'side legs of the brackets. On the other hand, if the slots l5 are formed adjacent the lower side surfaces of the crosspieces [3, the crosspieces l3 tend to rock downwards in response to outward thrust of the panels and such tendency is counteracted or precluded by the feet on the lowermost legs of the brackets. It is contemplated that if the panels have a plurality of crosspieces, a combined tie and spreader rodand a releasable locking device will be applied to each crosspiece. It is also contemplated that the locking devices may be applied to the top or bottom crosspieces of the panel frames as well as to the intermediate crosspieces and that the crosspieces of the panel frames may extend vertically instead of horizontally. Due to the design and construction of the releasable locking devices 8 the wall form as a whole may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device adapted for use in connection with a wall type panel in the form of a facing with an aperture therethrough and a reenforcing beam of rectangular cross section mounted on the outer surface of the facing in juxtaposition with respect to the aperture and having a transverse slot adjacent and at right angles to said aperture, and a combined tie and spreader member having one end thereof extending through the aperture, fitting against the side surface of the beam that is nearer said aperture, and provided with a transverse opening in alignment with the slot, said device comprising a U-shaped bracket embodying an outer intermediate part and a pair of laterally spaced inwardly extending side legs, shaped to straddle said one end of the member and the slotted part of the beam, having its side legs as long as the beam is wide in order that when the bracket is in its straddled position with respect to said one end of the member and said slotted part of the beam the free ends of the side legs abut directly against the outer surface of the facing, embodying in its side legs aligned slots adapted when the bracket is in its said straddled position to register with the opening in said member and the slot in the beam, and having on the free end of the side leg thereof that laps the one end of the member an outwardly extending right angle foot adapted to abut directly against said outer surface of the facing and prevent the bracket and beam from turning laterally in one direction relatively to said facing, and a bolt adapted when the bracket is in its aforesaid straddled position to extend through the slots in the side legs of the bracket, the opening in said one end of the member and the slot in the beam, and operative when in place to connect the member and bracket to the beam and alsov to hold the panel against. lateral displace.- ment in either direction with respect to said member.

2. A device adapted for use in connection with a wall type panel in the form of a facing with an aperture therethrough and a reenforcing beam or rectangular cross section mounted on the outer surface of the facing in juxtaposition with respect to the aperture and having a transverse slot adjacent and at right angles to said aperture, and a combined tie and spreader member having one end thereof extending through the aperture, fitting against the side surface of the beam. that is nearer said aperture, and provided with a transverse opening in alignment with the slot, said device. comprising a one-piece stamped metalfU- shaped bracket. embodying. an outer intermediate part. and a pair of laterally spaced inwardly extending, side legs, shaped to straddle said one end 01 the member and the slotted part of the beam, having its. side legs as long as the beam is wide in order that, when the bracket is. in its straddled position with respect to: said one end of the memher. and said slotted part of the beam the free ends of the side legs abut directly against the outer surface of the facing, embodying in its side legs aligned slots adapted when the bracket is in its, said straddled position to register with the opening in said member and the slot in the beam, and, having on the free ends of the side legs 8 thereof integral outwardly extending. right. angle feet adaptedv to abut directly against. the outer surface of the: panel facing and to prevent-the bracket and beam from turning. laterally in either direction relatively to said facing, and a wedge shaped bolt adapted when the bracket is in aforesaid straddled position toextend throughthe slots in the side legs of the bracket, the opening in said one end: of the member and the slot: in the beam, and operative when in place toconnect themember and bracket to the beam and also tohold the panelagainst. lateral displacement in either direction with respect to said member.

ARTHUR. H. SYMONS.

REFERENCES? CITED The following references are of record in the fi-l'eof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,950,650 Beghetti Mar. 13; 1934 1,976,913 Beauchamp Oct. 16; 1934 2,221,125 Ball Nov. 12, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 385,846 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1933 

